Fastening device



June 9, 1931. e. SUNDBACK FASTENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5 19 0 INVENTOR.

Gideon. Szznclbqck.

ATTO 'EY,

Patented June 9, 1931.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GIDEON' S' UN'DBAOK, OF MEADYILLE; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HOOKLESS FASTEN'EBI'OOEPANY, OI A CORPORATION OF IENN- SYLVANIA rasrmgnre mwrcr:

My invention relates to fastenin ,devices and particularl to that class of suc devices having interloc 'ng portions adapted to be" successively brought together at an angle to Beach other andprogressively interlocked. A slider may be used for the purpose'of interlocking and releasing the parts of the fastener O1 in some forms of my invention, the fastening may be accomplished simply by the fingers.

on the other side and in which reinforcing means extend across said recess. A further object is to provide an improved fastener made of molded material with-improved reinforcing means embedded in the material. M

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear during the course of the following specification.

a In the accompanying drawings I have shown for pur oses of illustration several embodiments Wl'llCh my invention may assume in practice. In these drawings:

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fastening device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the fastening device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of the fastener being closed by the fingers.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a further modification.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5'-5 of Fig. 4.

The fastening deviceillustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a pair of flexible stringers or body members 6 and 7 which may be attached to the edges of the article to be fastened in any convenient manner. Each of the separable bodyportions or stringers comprises a web section. 8 and interlocking portions 9 and 10 projecting from the web portions and preferably integrally connected to the same. In

the preferred embodiment both the web portions and the interlocking portions are 'molded out of a suitable rubber composition.

The interlocking portion 10 is provided with a-substantially cylindrical recess 11 extend- 'tions 12 which are adapted to fit loosely in the recess 11. A series of metal reinforcementelements extend transversely across the recess 11 and have theirends 14 and 15 bent at a right angleto provide more secure anchoring means. These metal reinforcing members are provided at regularly spaced intervals along the interlocking portion and fit into the spaces 16 between the projections 12 on the cooperat ing fastener member.

In order to bring the flexible interlocking port ons into proper relationship for interlooking, a slider 17 comprising a strip of metal bent to generally U-shape is fitted over the edges of the fastener members. It will be notedthat the outside contour of the interlocking portions 9 and 10 is such as to provide shallow grooves 18 and the slider is suitably curved to fit into these grooves and be guided by them in its travel along the fastener elements. The edges of the slider are turned up as indicated at 19 and 20 so that they will not dig into the rubber but rather ride smoothly over it and guide the parts of the fastener together. In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the web portions 8 of the fastener extend in the same direction and thus a fastener is provided which is very suitable-for many applications such as handbags, pocketbooks, etc.

However, in other applications such as garments, it is desired to have the web ortions extend in opposite directions and in ig. 3 is disclosed a modification of .the construction adaptable for such purposes. In this figure it will be observed that web portions 21 and 22 extend from opposite sides of the fastening members proper. In other respects, the fastener construction is identically the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 except that insteadof providing a slider for closing the fastener members, the fingers of the user may be employed for the purpose. The

thumb and one finger of one hand are engaged in the grooves 18 and run along the entire length of the fastener from one end to the other, ,thus lockin the fastener in the same manner as the sli er 17.

In either of the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when it is desired to 0 en the fastener it is simply necessary to t e hold of the ends last to be closed and tear open the fastener. The fastener may be very easily se arated in this way and at the same time, Wlll hold very securely against separation by a siraight pull on the web portions of the fastener.

In operation it will be noted that the projections 12 and the walls of the recess 11 are made of very flexible material which will yield sufliciently to allow entrance of the projections into the recess and this is facilitated by bringing the parts together progressively so that only one portion at a time of the fastener is being connected. At the same time the reinforcements resist lateral flexing apart of the recess walls and thus materially strengthen the fastener.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the construction so as more closely to resemble the well known slide fastener. In this construction the recess 23 corresponding to the recess 11 faces outwardly from the edge of the interlocking portion 24 and cooperates with projections 25 corresponding to the projections 12 on the interlocking portion 26 of the mating fastener element. These interlockin portions are joined to webs 27 and 28 w ich serve to connect the fastener to the article to be fastened. It will be noted that because of the greater thickness of the interlocking portions as compared to the webs 27 and 28 s uare shoulders 29 are provided and these s oulders form a convenient means for receiving and uiding the slider 30. This slider may be 0 a type similar to those em loyed in commercial slide fasteners and 13 illustrated as having a pair of spaced wings 31 and 32 disposed on opposite sides of the interlocking portions and provided with flanges for cooperation with the shoulders 29. As is usually the case in such sliders, the wings are connected by an integral wedging and spacing portion 33 at the rear end of the slider and a. Y-shaped channel with divergin portions at the rear end of the slider is t us provided for receiving the stringers or fastener members and guiding them into and out of interlocking relation. The metal reinforcing members are provided in this fastener just as in the types illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. This slider preferably has an integral reinforcing yoke 34 and one one side of the slider the yoke is formed to provide suitable bearings 35 for receiving the pull device 36. If desired the projections 25 may have extensions 37 which engage behind the wires 13 and strengthen the fastener against lateral separation. It will thus be seen that in this modification of my invention there is rovided a fastener generally similar to the ide fastener which is well known at the present time.

As a result of my invention it will be observed that an improved fastening device has been devised which is very flexible and sufficiently strong for many purposes. The fastener construction readily adapts itself to manufacture by a molding operation and thus can be very easily constructed from rubber or similar material. The wire reinforcing elements may be embedded conveniently in the rubber durin the molding operation.

While I have in t is application specifically described three embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purposes of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a multiple fastener, a pair of flexible strips, interlocking projections on one. of said strips, a projection-receiving recess on the other of said-strips, and reinforcing means extending directly across said recess to resist separation of the walls thereof.

2. In a multiple fastener, a pair of flexible strips, interlocking projections on one of said strips, a projection-receiving recess on the other of said strips, and metal reinforcements extending across the mouth of said recess to resist separation of the walls thereof.

3. Ina multiple fastener, a pair of flexible members, interlocking projections on one of said members, resilient means forming a projectlon-receiving recess on the other of said members, and reinforcing wires extending across said recess to resist separation of the walls thereof.

4. In a multiple fastener, a pair of flexible portlons, interlocking projections alon the edge of one of said portions, the other 0 said portions having a recess formed integrally therewith for receiving said projections, and spaced metal wires extending transversely across said recess to resist separation of the walls thereof.

5. In a multiple fastener, a pair of flexible strips composed of rubber, interlocking proections on one of said strips, means integral with the other of said strips forming a projection-receiving recess, andv reinforcing means extending across said recess to resist separation of the walls thereof.

6. In a multiple fastener, a pair of flexible strips, interloc ing projections along the edge of one of said strips, a continuous recess extending along the other of said strips for receiving said projections, and metal relnforcements extending transversely across said recess and arranged to enter between said projections when the, fastener is closed.

7. In a multi le fastener, a pair of flexible strips, interloc ing projections along the edge of one of said strips, a continuous recess extending along the other of said strips for receiving said projections, metal reinforcements extending transversely across said recess and arranged to enter between said projections when the fastener is closed, and extensions on said projections engaging behind said reinforcements when the fastener is closed. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GIDEON SUNDBACK. 

